SB police examining video of suspect being beaten

San Bernardino police on Tuesday were scrutinizing an eyewitness video which shows an officer repeatedly striking a motorist with a baton while another officer tries to hold the suspect down.

[Facepalmed]

Why hit the person nine times, in the leg - using both arms at full force, with a baton? I know that this video doesn't show the minutes leading up to what we are seeing - but it seems very excessive.

[Glen R]

That was bad. Plain and simple, the use of force on a civilian that was of no threat at the time. These officers need to be suspended pending a full investigation.

[IEE]

Obviously not obsessive force.
Guy is obviously resisting while on the ground. Its called escalation use of force, people. Physical presence, verbal commands, hands on, then use of non lethal weapons = baton, OC spray, taser. People are SO QUICK to judge these officers, its so distasteful. You don't even know what the guy had done, or may have on him. Why is he resisting so much? Gun in wastband? Knife? You don't even know, thats why ANYTHING can happen, and the number one priority of the officers is to gain compliance and restrain the suspect. Innocent people don't resist.
The suspect is obviously STILL RESISTING when baton strikes are issued. For the people who say, isn't 2 officers enough, hello! the guy is still resisting and not releasing his hands, how can you deescalate the use of force when the suspect is still ACTIVELY RESISTING. Once the 3rd officer went on scene, the officer immediately stopped the baton strikes, since the 3rd officer is considered an escalation of force.
What you expect the baton to be used for? Love taps? The baton is meant to be used to issue strikes to a suspect to gain compliance, and obviously the suspect was still resisting while it was being used and was immediately not used once another officer was able to go hands on.
As for the response numbers to the scene. imagine your hearing on your radio - "Officer fighting with one" and thats all you hear, you have no idea whats going on, so do the officers - of course your going to stop what your doing to help another officer, so hence you see the response numbers to the scene.

[IMAFAN]

just how many cops in SB does it take to take down one drug dealer? Must have been a slow night in berdoo..... gotta love the commentary tho - bunch of idiots on the street who won't even give up their names. Typical SB cowards.

[Tired of the BS]

That guy had it comming to him. Do what your told to do the first time and there isn't an issue. Continue to resist and the force escalates. Strong work PD... Maybe all the local idiots will take note. Break the law.... Break your legs.....

[WTF]

If you want a fight then punch a cop but dont cry when you get your butt beat. Watch the video closely. He is not doing what the officers say and thats why the officer is hitting him. He deserves it and much more. Who in their right mind thinks its ok to punch a police officer. I say break his arms if he does it again. Maybe when we start getting tough on criminals, San Bernardino will be a safe place to raise a family again. Don,t back down PD

[BerdooWatch]

Whatever the reason may be, there was no justification for the amount of beatings and hits he took, especially when it could have been resolved quickly by the use of the tazers they carry. If an officer can sit atop him and the other is behind, u can tazer the guy insead of beating him with the baton. In addition, why the response by so many officers? Simply not needed. All it does is sensationalize the situation and create hysteria.....simple look at how the guy was treated who was doing the video taping. There was no just cause for the threatening demeanor from the officer demanding his ID and name and then t blow him off! That officer needs to be written up. Its no wonder san berdoo has its issues.....I hope this looked into far and deep and officers get fired and charges pressed for the abuse.

[Tired of the BS]

The justification for the beatings comes when he doesn't do what he is being instructed to do by PD. And the deameanor of the officer asking for ID and a name? Thats normal practice when interviewing a witness. C'mon Pull your head out of the sand. What about the guys demeanor when he refuses to tell the officer his info. Why be difficult? Why dont you call him out? Are you ignorant as well? It's time people are responsible for their actions. Keep up the good work PD. Thank you for your service

[Go SBPD]

I laugh when I read what the whiners write in. They make it out like the police are the problem with the city. Why didnt the guy videotaping cooperate with the police when he wanted to interview him.Why not give your name if you witnessed something you thought was wrong. What a coward! I bet his big moment in life is when he refused to give the officer his ID. WOW how brave!Thank god for the police of losers like this will be running the show.

[Support the police]

Listening to the video its easy to see why the City of San Bernardino is in such trouble. The people videotaping are blaming the police when its obvious the criminal is still fighting. I say get in there and help arrest the fool instead of passing judgment. I wish I would have been there. I wouldnt jumped in and helped out. Way to go SBPD.

[MIke]

More police ABUSE WE NEED TO SHOW up to the next COUNCIL MEETING, and start rootong out the BAD cops, that DISGRACE the rest of the department. No more cover up's cops are highly aggressive and pre-emptive aggresion is no excuse to break the law.

[Jerry 35 year resident]

Of course they get the Video removed. And just another cover up with an internal investigation, and the cop being aggresive with the witness is no excuse or profesionalism. He was trying to scare him, and see if he had anything on his rap sheet that he could smear the witnesse's name. They havwe more training in Damage Control in this department then they do, in civil liberties. How many beatings and police shooting have thier been this year, alone? Look it up.

[Michael]

Of course the criminal is not resisting arrest. He is resisting excessive force, that is very clear. We should not protect these aggresive out of control police officer's when we have a lot of great officer's that deserve the resources and not more taint on our department.

[Speed Kills]

I'm surprised cops would beat Mr White like that. Q: You might be a redneck if... A: You go to the family reunion to pick up women. ;)

[SBPD is AOK By Me]

I agree 100% with what's been said in agreement with SBPD above.
My uncle was a deputy sherrif - a brass knuckle carrying deputy back in the day when that was alright -
Now days, LEOs are cut off at the knees, out gunned and out armored than the ones they're risking all to protect us from.
They used a STICK - not a billy club filled with lead, like was the way not all that long ago - a simple STICK/baton
(Baton Rouge means "red stick", in French - "Baton" is French for "stick", so when I write "stick" I am precisely correct in English - our national language).
We're not a family of lawless idiots, yet I've raised my children to know, "If you're ever out with friends and the police pull you over, just SIT DOWN, I don't care if you're wearing a new $100 pair of white shorts/pants/skirt/dress (whatever!), SIT DOWN! If the officers ask what you're doing, tell them, "My parents told me if I were ever stopped by you to sit down, so that I won't be tempted to run".
It's common sense. Kids will be kids. They're still learning. They may act on impulse and try to run.
The cocaine nut was running - blow stop signs and jeopardizing MY LIFE and the lives of my family members, neighbors and friends - Who among us hasn't driven Highland Ave.?
I'll take seeing some reckless doper get whacked for failing to comply over seeing those I care for converted to "remains" by a schmuck like this ANYDAY!
Whoop his @** some more, for general purposes, for me!
And, whoop the next one, too!
Mice don't get their necks broken unless they go snooping around for some cheese - and people don't get their legs thumped unless they act the fool with PD!
Here's a question nobody's asked yet,

Why were they whacking at his LEGS, when it's clearly his HEAD that has a few screws loose? LOL!

[Arthur Anderson]

Police are our knights, but they are not chivalrous. They keep peace and shoot to kill. It is not okay for them to abuse their power. It may be funny to you now, but not when you are receiving the baton.

People should always listen to the police when they speak, but we live in a society where being beaten by a police officer should never happen. It is unfortunate to see people posting applause for such actions. It is barbaric.

I appreciate the times they have saved my life, but I cannot forget the abuse I received as a teenager from them as well. Unfortunately power corrupts...

[Ralph]

They should have used a .40 caliber to handle the situation. The criminals have no respect for the officers because the officers hands are tied.
What the bleeding hearts want is for the officer to ask "pretty please with sugar on top, can i please see your drivers license?" and when the criminal says no, the offiers can just shuffle off for fear of being video taped and sued !
Enough is enough.

[NoName]

It's amuzing to me that people are so quick to scrutinize the police department yet so quick to call them when they are in need. This guy who videtaped was only looking for attention by posting his video on youtube! Too bad he used up his 5 minutes of fame on something so lame. Don't judge an officer unless you have walked a mile in their shoes. I'm not saying there aren't bad cops out there but don't be so quick to judge them when you don't have a clue what they go through day after day.

[wkenddad]

Again the question is not why they struck him; but why did the suspect not comply?

No one would die in high speed pursuits, or from beong shot by police if they just complied!

Stop blamingthe police.
If the suspect had been handcuffed during the incident I would be agreeing with you, but until the suspect in under control, searched and found to be without weapons any force necessary to get the suspect that way is okay with me.

If the suspect had complied, placed his hands on his head he would have not had a scratch on him.

[Sad]

BerdooWatch wrote:

Whatever the reason may be, there was no justification for the amount of beatings and hits he took, especially when it could have been resolved quickly by the use of the tazers they carry.

Tazers and drugs don't mix. Makes the heart go tickety tock, stop. I think the guy would rather have bruises.